Case Hardin - Colours Simple (2015)

Following on from their critically acclaimed 'PM' album, a record that really underlined Pete Gow's position of one of the UK finest songwriters, Colours Simple sonically delivers a fuller band approach and one that is both fuelled and driven by the sublime fretwork of guitarist Jim Maving and grounded by rhythm section Tim Emery and Andy Bastow, with Mike Wesson once again in the piano/organ hot seat. Recorded at Chris Clarke's Reservoir Studios in north London, Colours Simple opens with the anthemic Poets Corner, that sets the tone for much of the record. Gow sings about love, loss, isolation and life in the shadows. Like all the albums before, lyrically Gow's songs paint word picture vignettes, moments in time where the players battle on the frontline of emotion. And are forever questioning their place in the world. The liner notes - a dry essay on the death of liner notes - are provided by Gow's friend and colleague - CBS News Senior Foreign Correspondent Mark Phillips.